WWE Money In The Bank: The Best Briefcase Cash-Ins in History
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The best part about the entire Money in the Bank concept is the cash-in. Mr./Ms. Money in the Bank carries the briefcase everywhere and is seen with it everywhere. It's a constant, low-stress reminder that at any moment during Raw, Smackdown, or a pay-per-view, the storyline could be turned upside down.
And it makes the champion more vulnerable than ever before; they can't afford to have a match run too long, and certainly can't afford to get a post-match beatdown in the ring. Because the next thing you know, the music of the Money in the Bank winner is going to hit, and the superstar is going to run down to the ring, briefcase in hand. Done properly, everything builds to the moment where it finally happens.
Here are the 7 greatest Money in the Bank briefcase cash-ins in WWE history. Check out the upcoming Money in the Bank PPV's match card and start time here, along with GameSpot's predictions for the event. If you liked this gallery, you can read some interesting trivia about the history of the event. And check back in with us on Sunday, May 19, when we'll be covering the entire PPV live.
7. Carmella at Smackdown (2017)
Against: Charlotte Flair
The best and funniest part about this cash-in is the agonizing, infuriating delay. The WWE referees almost always plays dumb, but this took it to another level of trolling.
You had Carmella shrieking at the top of her lungs, "Cash it In! Ring the bell!" And referee Mike Chioda stood there pretending not to hear her or understand what she wanted, even as she was pushing the briefcase into his chest. Then Chioda called over the ring announcer who looked just as confused, as Charlotte Flair struggled to her feet. This sort of delay is how cash-ins usually fail.
There was a sense of relief when the bell finally rang, and the match was on. There was no turning back now. And Carmella quickly got the pin, the win, and the Smackdown Women's Championship.
6. Dolph Ziggler at Monday Night Raw (2013)
Against: Alberto Del Rio
This just felt right. Ziggler was one of the most gifted, apt pupils in OVW, WWE's developmental territory. Head booker Jim Cornette earmarked him for early success, as a talent on the level of Cena or Orton. But once he arrived on the main roster, WWE nearly killed Ziggler's career by giving him a male cheerleader gimmick as part of the Spirit Squad.
But after a brief absence, "Nicky" made his return as Dolph Ziggler, a gyrating, show-off egomaniac and a boy toy of Vickie Guerrero. When he cashed in on Alberto Del Rio in 2013, he was technically a heel, but the fans at the Raw after Wrestlemania 29, who had waited for years for the guy to finally get his shot, went wild when his music hit.
5. Edge at Smackdown (2007)
Against: The Undertaker
It is so rare to see The Undertaker lose, in any circumstance and under any stipulation, that the very act of it is noteworthy. This is what it took to take down the Phenom and wrest the World Heavyweight Championship from his cold, dead hands: a steel cage match with Batista, followed by a nasty cut on his forehead that gave him a "crimson mask," followed by a post-match beatdown by Mark Henry, followed by a Spear by Edge.
This is how to make someone look good in defeat. Undertaker came out of it looking like the toughest guy on the roster. And heel Edge looked like even more of a worm. It was win/win for everyone.
4. Edge at New Year's Resolution (2006)
Against: John Cena
The first cash-in is still one of the best; Edge came out to the ring while Cena was still reeling from his Elimination Chamber match against Kurt Angle, Carlito, Kane, Chris Masters, and Shawn Michaels. He hit two Spears on Cena before making the pinfall.
This set a precedent of overall cowardice from both good guys and heels moving forward. And Edge won his first of 11 world titles, contributing to his well-earned reputation as the Ultimate Opportunist.
3. CM Punk at Monday Night Raw (2008)
Against: Edge
Legendary WWE commentator Jim Ross is from Oklahoma (Boomer Sooner!) And on a night that's usually reserved for humiliating Ross in front of his hometown crowd, things took a wonderful, karmic turn. Edge came out to pile on and trash talk Ross, gloating after his dirty win over Batista at Night of Champions the prior night.
And that's when Batista took the opportunity to get his revenge. He Batista Bombed the Rated-R Superstar, which allowed Punk hit the ring, hit the GTS, and secure the world title. What a string of bad luck! And it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
2. Randy Orton at SummerSlam (2013)
Against: Daniel Bryan
The best part about this cash-in was the Game of Thrones-esque cruelty of it; it was a twist and betrayal so well orchestrated and disguised, that it still shocks, even in hindsight. That night, Triple H lived up to his nickname: The Cerebral Assassin.
Daniel Bryan has just taken down John Cena and won the WWE Championship in a hard-fought victory. Then, as Bryan celebrated, guest referee Triple H, who until that point had called things down the middle, delivered a Pedigree to the new champion. And that's when Randy Orton, briefcase in hand, cashed in and pinned Bryan. The audience was shocked. Triple H had his hand-picked champion holding gold, at the unfortunate expense of the fan-picked favorite.
1. Seth Rollins at Wrestlemania 31 (2015)
Against: Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns
Never before had a briefcase winner cashed in at Wrestlemania. But Seth Rollins came running down the ramp, right near the end of Wrestlemania 31's main event between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns. And suddenly, the 1-on-1 for the WWE Championship was a Triple Threat. It was a heel move, for sure, but there was the slightest bit of honor in it; Rollins would not wait until after the match, when both men would be utterly exhausted, to pick the bones clean.
At the time, WWE was suffering a Roman Reigns backlash, thanks to a horribly booked 2015 Royal Rumble. In that match, Roman Reigns earned his Wrestlemania title match to a chorus of boos from the audience that not even an appearance by The Rock could stop.
But the crowd didn't like Lesnar either. By injecting a third option into the match, WWE salvaged their main event and delivered a shocking result. Rollins delivered a Curb Stomp to Reigns, the referee counted 1-2-3, and the architect of the Shield was the WWE Champion.